344 llie American Geologist. M;iy, is'Ji 
Science Mre sections or parag'i'aj)hs. or even lengthy reviews, 
on the following American topics: "The Biology of the Great 
Lalces," "An Eastern Question," "Revision of Nortli Ameri- 
can Slugs," "James Hall," "liotanical Scraps from America," 
"Cope's Factors of Evolution," "American Pvthnology," "Hay- 
den Memorial Prize," "Mexico and the Metric System." Mr. 
Bather's review of Cope's Factors of Evolution is a long and 
critical synopsis and complete examination of that work. We 
thatik our English cousins foi- their appreciation of our prog- 
ress and for their friendly talk. n. h. w. 
Seventh Session of the International (Congress of 
Geologists. — St. Petersburg. 
A translation of the second circular from the C^oramittee on 
Organization of the International Congress of Geologists to be 
held in St. Petersburg next summer, was published in the Ap- 
ril number of The Geologist. This month the map of the 
excursions is added, together with a supplementary circular 
which the committee has been obliged to issue because of the 
unexpectedly large number of applications for cards entitling 
the holders to participate in the excursions for the small sum 
which the committee, thanks to the assistance of the imperial 
government, the municipal authorities of the cities along the 
routes, and certain large proprietors and companies interested 
in the development of Russian resources, has been able to fix. 
This last circular has evidently been issued with regret b}'^ the 
committee, and while it will cause great disappointment to 
many who would have used the occasion for the benefit of the 
scientific world, it is of the utmost importance that its pur- 
port should be published as widely as possible in order that 
no one may unadvisedly incur the serious expense and trouble 
of a voyage to Russia under the misapprehension that he will 
be allowed to join in the excursions. 
The qualification for admission to these excursions which the 
committee has adopted is an extremely stringent, and it may 
be thought a veiy arbitrary one; and is no less than the re- 
striction of the privileges to those geologists whose published 
works are kvoivn to the committee. The book recently issued 
by M. de Margerie professes to be a bibliography of bibliog- 
raphies, and as such would not be expected to contain the in- 
